Habs News: NHL, Montreal Canadiens, Kent Hughes, Michael Pezzetta, Jared Davidson, Owen Beck, Logan Mailloux
ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA | LAVAL, QC. — Kent Hughes completed his first off-season move on Friday by inking restricted free agent Michael Pezzetta to a two-year contract that will pay him on average $812,500 per season. The forward will be an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of his new deal.
In 2022-’23, the Toronto native set personal record of seven goals and eight assists. Pezzetta also dressed for 63 games, the most in a season since 2015-’16 when he played 64 games for the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey League.
“The game slowed down a lot in my head. I feel like I was able to make better plays as opposed to the most simple play. I was able to make plays more efficiently and be a more effective player,” Pezzetta evaluated his season.
The Canadiens sixth round pick in 2016 had a slow start to the year, producing three points in his first 27 games. “In the second half (of the season), I found my groove. Just getting in the lineup every night and feeling comfortable and being able to know that I’m in the lineup,” Pezzetta explained the improvement. “That put me in a good place mentally and I felt that I found my game and was playing really effective hockey.”
Pezzetta occasionally got ice on the penalty kill and is looking to build on that for the upcoming season. “My touches got a lot better this season and that’s something I need to continue to improve on and that’s going to allow me to be successful,” he added.
#Habs Michael Pezzetta signed a two-year contract that has an average annual value of $812,500.
Last season, he had 7 goals and 8 assists in 63 games.
Here are his goals + shootout winner vs BUF#GoHabsGo #NHL #Hockey pic.twitter.com/MKBO16gmZO
— Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) June 2, 2023
Memorial Cup
The 2023 Memorial concluded on Sunday with the Quebec Remparts defeating the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-0 in Kamloops.
In the final, Jared Davidson was held off the scoresheet with one shot on goal and minus-3. The Canadiens fifth round pick in 2022 finished the tournament with six points in five games.
Owen Beck‘s Peterborough Petes tournament ended on Friday with a 4-1 loss to the Thunderbirds in a tie breaker on Friday. Beck obtained an assist, two shots on goal and minus-1 in the contest. He finished the tournament with three points, nine shots on goal and minus-2 in five matches.
#Habs prospect Owen Beck with a nice assist in Peterborough's 4-1 loss to Seattle on Friday.
Beck finished the tournament with three assists in five games. #GoHabsGo #Hockey pic.twitter.com/QCRI7ezU6R
— Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) June 4, 2023
On Friday, the Ontario Hockey League announced that Logan Mailloux and Beck were voted by the general managers to the second and third All-Star teams respectively.
Prior to the start of the Stanley Cup final on Saturday, Gary Bettman said that he will meet with the Canadiens following the playoffs to discuss Mailloux’s eligibility to play in the NHL.
Listen to the Canadiens Connection podcast
Director of Scouting for Hockey Prospect, Jerome Berube, joined the show to discuss three players who Kent Hughes may be considering with the 5th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. And more!
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By Chris G., Senior Writer
Habs Hockey Report
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